The size of the illuminated portion of a planet or moon can vary depending on its position relative to the light source, typically the sun. The illuminated portion represents the side facing the light source, while the unilluminated portion is in shadow. This distribution of light and shadow creates phases for the object, such as the lunar phases of the Moon.
At any given time, one half of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the sun, just like on Earth. The portion of the Moon's illuminated side that we can see from Earth depends on its position in its orbit around our planet.
An observer on Earth can recognize waxing and waning phases of the Moon based on the illuminated portion of the Moon's surface visible from Earth. During the waxing phase, the illuminated portion increases from right to left, while during the waning phase, the illuminated portion decreases from right to left. To remember this, you can think of the letter "D" for waxing (like the shape of the letter as it increases in size) and the letter "C" for waning (like the shape of the letter as it decreases in size).
The phase that follows the new moon phase when it appears as a small outer portion of a circle is the waxing crescent phase. This phase occurs as the illuminated portion of the Moon gradually increases in size.
Around 25% illuminated, depending on where you were when you saw it.(Your position doesn't affect the size of the illuminated portion, but as time went on during the night, the actual visible portion of the moon was shrinking.)
The lunar phase refers to the shape of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen from Earth, which changes as the Moon orbits our planet.
The waxing phase of the moon is the period of time between new moon and full moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing. The waning phase of the moon is the period of time between full moon and new moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.
When the illuminated portion is decreasing from one night to the next, the moon is in its 'waning' phases.
The waxing phase of the moon is the period of time between new moon and full moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing. The waning phase of the moon is the period of time between full moon and new moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.
A gibbous moon is one of the phases of the Moon, when the size of the illuminated portion is greater than half but not a full Moon.
A decrease in the illuminated portion of the Moon is called waning. When the illuminated portion is increasing, it is called waxing.
The opposite of a gibbous moon is a crescent moon. A gibbous moon is when the illuminated portion of the moon is greater than half, while a crescent moon is when the illuminated portion is less than half.
When the entire face of the moon is lit, it is a full moon.
The Moon is not visible at the new moon phase. At the first quarter, it is "waxing" - the illuminated portion is increasing. At the full, the illuminated portion of the Moon is 100%, and it is finished waxing and is about to begin "waning", when the illuminated part is decreasing. At the 3rd quarter, it is waning.
Gibbus moon
No, the moon does not change its shape. The moon's phases are caused by the angle at which we see the illuminated portion of the moon from Earth as it orbits around our planet.
A gibbous moon is one of the phases of the Moon, when the size of the illuminated portion is greater than half but not a full Moon.
At any given time, one half of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the sun, just like on Earth. The portion of the Moon's illuminated side that we can see from Earth depends on its position in its orbit around our planet.